Weft end tucking means



June 16, 1964 M. J. wAsYLEwlz wEFT END TUCKING MEANS Filed Feb.12, 196211 Sheets-Sheet 1 asa :76a faf/ 9 n VETa MQW ya? Mgt/M95@ mi June 16,1964 M. J. wAsYLl-:wlEz 3,137,321

wEFT END 'rucxmc MEANS Filed Feb. 12, 1962 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 16,1964 M. J. wAsYLEwn-:z 3,137,321

mr END 'rucxmc MEANS med Feb. 12, 1962 11 sheets-sheet a June 16, 1964M. J. wAsYLEwlEz 3,137,321

wm' END Tucxmc mns Filed Feb. l2, 1962 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 June 16, 1964M. J. wAsYLEwlEz wm END TucxING MEANS 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. l2,1962 June 16, 1964 M. J. wAsYLEwlEz wrm END Tucxmc ums 11 Sheets-Sheet 6Filed Feb. 12, 1962 IIIIII. lllllllllllflIliilllllldl. l

June 16, 1964 M. J. wAsYLEwlEz 3,137,321

\ man END TucxING MEANS Filed Feb. 12, 1962 11 Sheets-Sheet 7 Dfi/Eys IJune 16, 1964 M. J. wAsYLEwlEz 3,137,321

lWEIF'I END ING MEANS Filed Feb. 12, 1962 11 Sheets-Sheet 8 June 16,1964 M. J. wAsYLEwlEz 3,137,321

WE1-T END TUCKING mns Filed Feb. 12, 1962 11 Sheets-Sheet 9 ,www im mayJune.16, 1964 M. J. wAsYLEwlEz wm END Tucxmc; mns

11 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Feb. 12, 1962 June 16,` 1964 M. J. WASYLEWIEZWEFT END TUCKING MEANSl 11 Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed Feb. 12, 1962 Ill' f AUnited States Patent O 3,137,321 WEFT END TUCKING MEANS Maurice J.Wasylewiez, Beauvais-en-Cambresis, Nord, France, assigner toEtablissement Seydoux et Michau Reunis, Paris, France, a company ofFrance Filed Feb. 12, 1962, Ser. No. 172,523 12 Claims. (Cl. 139-124)This invention relates to improvements in looms, and is more especially,though not exclusively, applicable to looms of that type in which theweft is shot through the shed in the warp by a system of needles ratherthan a shuttle and quill.

This `application is a continuation-in-part of my prior patentapplication Serial Number 738,211 tiled May 27,

195 8, now abandoned.

The improvements to which the invention is directed relate chiey to theformation of the selvages of the woven fabric and it will be understoodthat woven fabrics produced by means of the improved looms of theinvention are new articles of manufacture covered by this invention.

In a weaving process the warp yarn along the edges of the web which areto form the selvages of the fabric is subjected to repeated stress dueespecially to the friction exerted by the needle heads or otherweft-inserting components, and also due to the tension of the weft.

Where the warp yarn is made of delicate and/ or extensible material sothat substantial tension cannot be imparted to it, such yarn tends to becarried over or displaced inwards towards the central area of the web.As a result, the reed as it presses the weft yarn home acts on theselvage threads to return them to their correct position and thisresults in distortion of the selvage in the finished article. Theresulting selvage is warped, irregular and easily frayed.

One improvement according to the present invention lies in associatingwith the weaving frame a gripper or presser device adapted to engage theedges of the web extremely close to the apex of the shed i.e. the fellof the web, throughout the near totality of the weaving cycle, so as toretain the selvage threads in correct position, said presser devicebeing so operated that it only releases the web as the reed begins topress the web yarn home.

The device of the invention thus prevents the selvage threads from beingdisplaced towards the center of the web under the effect of needlefriction and/or friction from other weft inserting members, and thetension of the weft. The selvage threads are only released at such apoint in the Weaving cycle where the stresses applied to them arenegligibly low since the width of the web at the end of the shed is thenthe same as the width of the reed.

Consequently, internal tension stresses Within the web are eliminatedand the -woven fabric is discharged from the loom with faultless selvagewhich can if desired be subjected to subsequent tentering and sizingtreatment without any deformation.

The improvement just described is applicable to any type of straightweaving frame or loom regardless of the particular method of weftinsertion (shuttle or needles) used therein and it is especiallyadvantageous where the width of the web as discharged from the loomtends to drop below the width at the reed.

In the special case of shuttleless looms using needles for weftinsertion, the invention further contemplates means for maintaining theweft yarn uniformly stretched during extension and until fully settledinto the web, thereby averting the formation of wavy or warped weft andimparting faultless grain to its fabric regardless of the particulartexture.

The invention further includes improved means for inserting the weftpick into the shed and turning or tucking in the ends of each pick ofweft into the shed next formed in order to form the selvage.

Further improvements according to the invention relate to the provisionof a device for taking over the weft thread from the head of a weftdrawing needle as soon as the head has moved outside of the shed,thereby enabling the needles to be moved away any distance from theselvages without resulting in excessive waste of weft thread, andimparting greater flexibility in the synchronization of needle motionwith the motion of the means serving to tuck in the ends of the weftyarn into the selvage.

These last described improvements likewise permit the afore-mentionedmeans to be adapted to any of the various types of shuttleless loomsregardless of the type of needle operation used in them, and specically,both in those types involving a slowing down or a stationary period ofthe needles at the ends of the web and those in which such a period isnot present.

The ensuing description, made with reference to the accompanyingdrawings given by Way of example but not of limitation, will provide aclear understanding of the manner in which the invention can beperformed.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view, in elevation, of one form or embodimentof a weaving frame or loom of the so-called shuttle-less or quill-lesstype improved in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a corresponding view in plan some parts being emitted forclarity.

The figures numbered 3, 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d and so through 6, 6a, 6b, 6cand 6d are diagrammatic views, some of them on an enlarged scale,illustrating the operation of the components shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 andin some cases showing details of those components, other componentsbeing omitted for sake of clarity.

FIG. 7 is a plan view with part in longitudinal section showing the weftyarn delivering and pick-up needles.

FIG. 8 is a corresponding view in elevation partly in section.

FIG. 9 is a section on line XII-XII of FIG. l1.

FIG. 10 is similar to FIG. l0 showing the needles in a differentposition.

FIG. 11 is similar to FIG. 10 showing the needles in yet a differentposition.-

FIG. l2 is an elevational view of drawing-head takeover mechanism, someparts in section and omitted for clarity. Y

FIG. 12a is a corresponding view in plan.

FIG. 13 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 12 and FIGS. 14 and 15are plan views similar to FIG. 12a, all illustrating the mechanism indilferent stages of operation.

FIG. 16 is a diagrammatic view in elevation showing `a second form ofembodiment of a weaving frame according to the invention.

FIG. 17 is an end view partly in section on line XX- XX of FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a plan view corresponding to FIGS. 1 and 17.

FIGS. 19 and 20 are partial views similar-to FIG. 18 illustrating someof the components in altered positions.

FIG. 21 is a larger-scale view of the device for pressing and cuttingthe weft pick and inserting the end of it into the shed.

FIG. 22 is a section on line XXV-XXV of FIG. 2l.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, only those components of theloom have been shown which are required for a description of theinvention, including principally a conventional front breast-beam 1 andbatteri Z carrying the reed 3, which hatten is pivoted on a fixed apivot 4 (see FIG. 3) of the frame. The parts of the loom, including theshedding means, are conventional.

In accordance With the invention, a support 5 is secured in atransversely adjustable manner to the front breast beam 1. The supportcarries a conventional temple 6 (shown in dotted lines and more clearlyseen in FIG. 2) serving at all times to hold down the web 7 at the pointof weft insertion or shed apex line, i.e. at the fell of the fabricbeing woven, designated X in FIGS. 2, Saz-6a, and 7.

The support 5 is further provided with a pin 8 on which is provided alever 9 (shown with a reduced transverse dimension in FIG. l compared toFIGS. 3b-6b), the lever being biased by a spring 9a against a stop 9b onthe support 5. Connected at 10a and `11a to the lever 9 are the branches10 and 11 of a presser or gripper device adapted to clamp the warpthreads forming the selvage of the web at a point slightly rearward of,but extremely close to, the shed apex line X. For this purpose, eachbranch 10 and 11 carries a small vane or foot element 10b, 11b at itsfree end, directed transversely to the web.

As may be seen, e.g. from FIG. 3b, the branch 10 is rigidly attached tolever 9 while branch 11 is pivoted at 11a to the lever. The branch 11moreover has rigidly connected to it a small stop lever 11el adapted tocooperate with a stop 12 (shown in detail in dotted lines in FIG. 1)carried by the batten 2 to rock the branch 11 to open position.

Further, the support 5 carries a set of weft cutters or scissors, andweft-clamping means, illustrated in detail in FIG. 3c. This weft cuttingand clamping assembly comprises a lever 13 formed with a slot 13awhereby the lever is slidable upon a iixed pin 14 projecting from thesupport 5. The lever en d 13b (more clearly seen in FIG. 4c) is formedto'act as a stationary scissor blade, co operating with a movable cutteror scissor blade 15 pivoted to the stationary blade by way of a pivot 16and having an extension 15a which cooperates with a stop 17 on batten 2.Blade 15 has a sufficiently tight fit on pivot 16, that, althoughmovable, it remains ina given position until positively moved to adilierent position. A pin or roller 15b on the lower end of the cutterblade 15 cooperates with a camway or ramp 18 (see FIG. 2) formed on arocking member 19 pivoted at 2G to support 5. The rocking member' 19further has another cam or ramp surface 19a (see FIG. 2) formed on itand adapted to be engaged by the shank 21a of a lever 21 pivoted on apin 22 (see FIG. 1) projecting from the support 5. Lever 21 is, formedwith an extension 2lb cooperating with a stop 23 on batten 2. Rockingmember 19 vis spring-biased by` spring 19b to its starting positionshown in FIG. 2 determined by a detent 19C.

' Lever 13 has its rear end pivoted by a pin`24 to a lever- 25 pivotedat 26 (see FIG. 3) on a xed pin of the loom frame (not shown). Lever 25carries on its lower end a roller 27 engaging a cam 28 secured on theshaft 4 which serves as the pivot shaft Yfor batteri 2. Pivoted to a pin29 also on the loom frame is another lever 30 carrying at its lower enda roller 30a riding the contour of a further cam 31 also secured onshaft 4. The lever 30 at its upper end carries a pin 32 on which a lever32a A(see FIG. 1) is pivoted, connected through a pivot 34 with a lever33 formed with a slot 33a cooperating with a fixedA pin 33h on support5. Y l

Projecting from the upper side of lever 33 is a roller 34a riding in aslot 34b (see FIG. 2) formed in a xed member 34C carried by support 5. Arocking member 36 is pivoted at its lower end on pin 35 to lever 33 (pin35 being shown in FIG. 1 but omitted in FIGS 3d-6d). Member 36terminates at its upper end in a strip portion 36a engaged by a movablestrip 37. As may be seen on FIG. 2, strip 36a has a curved edge 36a1 onits side directed towards the fabric and strip 37 is a little narrower,

said strip 37 being provided with a straight edge 371 ex-M tendingchordally of edge 36:11. Member 36AV has aside,

i arm 36b (see FIG. 2) projecting from it, to which is pivoted a link36e extending through a guide member 36d secured to the support 5, sothat movement of the member 36 to the left in FIG. 2 will rotategthemember along with both strips 36a, 37 bodily towards the shed. Strip 37is pivoted at 38 (FIG. l) to the part 36 and is held in engagement withthe strip 36a by 'a leaf spring 39 secured to the part 36. Strip 37 isformed with an exteni sion 37a (see FIG. 3d) adapted to be actuated by astop 37b pivoted at 37e` to lever 25, the actual structure of stop' 37bbeing illustrated in FIG. 1 with the manner depicting the stop in FIGS.Scl-6d being diagrammatic. The support 5 further carries a pivot 40a(see FIG. 2) on which a small resilient lever 4t) is pivoted, which actson the lever or latch 41 (see FIG. 3a) of the needle 42 serving toinsert the weft 43, to release the weft from the needle.

As will be best seen from FIG. 3, the batten 2 is operated through alink 44 actuated from a crank 45 rotated by a shaft 46, which shaft isrotated at the same angular speed as the afore-mentioned shaft 4.

In the illustrated construction, weft delivery and insertion areeffected by the afore-mentioned needle 42 and a cooperating needle 47associated with a weft yarn supply reel 48, needle 47 being arranged toform the selvage on the right side of the fabric facing the loom.Needles 42 and 47 are diagrammatically illustrated in FIGS. 3a to 6aand, in greater detail, in FIGS. 7 to 11 to which particular referencewill now be made.

As already indicated, the weft inserting needle 42 has a small lever 41pivoted in it serving to release or dis engage the thread 43 which isretained in engagement with the nose 42a of the needle by a latch spring41a. The weft delivery needle 47 has a small aperture 47a formed in itsupper part through which the thread 43 from supply reel 48 is passed.The thread is then clamped against the body of the needle by a springstrip 47b and thence passes into a small slot 47C having a cutter blade47d positioned adjacent to it. Further, the needle has a heel, 47eprojecting from it. The weft delivery is effected as follows:

On closure of the shed by the heddles (not shown) in the conventionalmanner and as the shed starts to open up in the opposite direction, theneedle 47 moves towards the middle of the web along the apex line X(FIG. 10). The needle carries the weft thread 43 which has one endattached to the reel 48 and its opposite end connected with the end 4919ofthe preceding weft pick 49 over which the shed has closed in. Theneedle in its inward movement folds down the end 49h along the shed apexline while maintaining it applied against said line by means of the heel47e, and the tension thus exerted by the needle upon the said end causesthe thread to be cut o by the` cutter 47d. Interchange of the weftthreads is effected as the needles 42 and 47 meet each other at thecenter of the web, as seen in FIG. 10, and as now described.

As the nose 42a of needle 42 penetrates into the recessed needle 47, thespring 41a encounters the length of Weft thread stretching between theaperture 47a and spring strip 47h and picks up said length of thread sothat the latter is now clamped between lspring strip 41a and a surfaceon nose 42a. Both needles then move apart, needle 42 carrying the thread43 with it, so that the latter slides through aperture 47a in needle 47(FIG. ll).

The various stages Vof the operation of the device of this inventionwill now be explained in detail with refer-, ence to FIGS. 3 to 3dthrough 6 to 6d. In each of these Sets of FIGURES, FIGS. 3 through 6schematically illus trate the device as a Whole. FIGS. 3a through 6a arecorresponding partial views in plan; FIGS. 3b through 6b arelarger-scale views illustrating the selvage presser device, two of whichdevices are provided, one for each selvage on each side of the web.FIGS. 3c through 6c also are large-scale views showing the weft-cuttingand weftclamping assemblies, and FIGS. 3d through 6d are large scaleviews of the strip means serving to tuck in the end of the weft threadin forming the left-hand selvage of the fabric.

In FIGS. 3 to 3d, the batten 2 occupies a position designated as A. Theshed is open and the needles 42 and 47 have met at the center of theshed for exchanging the weft yarn as described above. At the apex of theshed adjacent the web selvage is firmly held by the presser 10, 11 asshown in FIG. 3b. Lever 25 is in its idle, or extreme forward positionnear the breast-beam 1 of the frame. The weft-cutter and weft-clampingdevice 13, is closed as shown in FIG. 3c. Lever 30 (FIG. 3) is at itsrearmost position near the batten 2 and, in moving rearward, it hasconstrained roller 34a carried by lever 33 (FIGS. 1 and 2) to ride theslot 34b and assume the angled position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2.Owing to this, the part 36 has also assumed the dotted position; thestrips 36a and 37 have been inserted into the shed. During thatinsertion the left hand end 49a of the preceding weft thread 49 has slidout of the strips as will be explained below and is maintained foldedalong the apex line X of the shed by the said strips. Stop 40 is in itsidle position (FIG. 3a) as are lever 21 and rock member 19 which controlthe operation of the weft cutter-clamp assembly 13, 15.

At the right side of the web, the end 49b of the preceding weft threadhas just been inserted by needle 47 as described with reference to FIGS.7 to 11.

As the crank 45 starts to rotate part dead center, batten 2 advancestoward the support 5. Needles 42 and 47 completes the weft interchangeand begin to be retracted from the shed which is still open. Presser 10,11 con- -tinue to retain the web 7 clamped adjacent the selvages. Lever25 is still idle but, under the action of cam 2S will soon start to moveforward. The weft cutter-clamp assembly 13, 15 is still closed. Thelever 30 is still positioned substantially at the rearward end of itspath toward the batten 2. The remaining members stay in the samepositions as in FIGS. 3 to 3d. The weft thread 43 is being drawn towardsthe left yselvage by the needle 42, while needle 47 is returning towardsthe reel 48.

In FIGS. 4 to 4d, the batten 2 has moved closer to breast-beam 1 and isin a position designated C. Needles 42 and- 37 are completely withdrawnout of the shed (FIG. 4a). Needle 42 has completed its feed from bobbin4S and has therefore. extended a full length of weft yarn 43 within theshed. Stop 12 (FIG. 4b) has not yet engaged. lever 11C, so that thepresser 10, 11 arestill maintaining the web clamped at the selvages. Onthe other hand, lever 25 has now assumed its rearmost positionv towardbatten 2, carrying the weft cutter-clamp assembly 13, 15 rearward, themovable blade 15 being pivoted Slightly away from the stationary blade13b of lever 13y by the action of ramp 18 onA pin 15b, opening theassembly and allowing the end of thread 43 to extend between the bladesthereof.

The shed is nearly completely closed. Lever 30, which is at i-ts extremeforward position near breast beam 1, has moved the lever 33 forward andthe lever in turn has restored the strip assembly 36aand 37 to aretracted position outside the shed as shown in FIG. 4a and in solidlines in FIG. 2. The thread end portion 49a of the previous weft thread,which has escaped the strips 36a, 37, as stated above, remains foldedalong the apex line X of the shed.

Meanwhile, owing to the rearward movement of lever 25, the stop 37b hasengaged the extension 37a and the strip 37 has been moved away fromstrip 36a, preparatory to picking up the new length of yarn 43 whichlies between the separated strips. The yarn is gradually beaten upagainst the fell of the web by the action of the reed 3' carried by thebatten.

In FIGS. 5a to 5d the batten is at position D. The needles 42 and 47 arestill positioned at the end of their stroke outside the shed and awayfrom the selvages. Needle 42 is still holding the thread 33 extended andstretched within the shed and the shed is fully closed. The stop 12(FIG. 5b) on batten 2 has engaged the lever 11c and the branches 10 and11 of the selvage pressers are thereby moved apart for a short time,permitting the web to be advanced. Lever 25 is still positioned at theend of its stroke towards the batten, the weft cutter-clamp blades 13,15 are still open, and strips 37, 36a are also open. However, lever 30is still positioned at the end of its stroke near the breast-beam and isholding the latter strips outside the shed. The remaining members are inthe same positions as before.

Batten 2 then moves on to its extreme forward position, completing thebeating up of the thread 43 and end portions of thread 49 to 49a, 49bagainst the shed apex line. Needles 42 and 47 are still positionedoutside the shed and away from the selvages while lever 2S remains atthe end of its path nearest the batten. The stop 17 on the battenengages the extension 15a of scissor blade 15, pivoting that blade toclose the scissors and thus clamp and cut the end 43a of the weftthread. This is made possible by the fact that the stop 23, acting onlever 21, caused disengagement of the ramp 18 to pivot counterclockwisein FIG. 2 and away from pin 15b which functioned to open the scissorblade. The needle 42, displaced together with the batten, has movedcloser to the resilient stop 40 which has pivoted lever 41 to open latchspring 41b, stripping the needle of the waste length 43C of the weftthread which no longer is retained and will be removed next time the.scissor blade 15 opens. The remaining components retained theirpositions in the foregoing operating stage, inoluding clamp 10, 11 whichis still open. As batten 2 starts its return movement, the high point ofcam 28 will very shortly pass from under roller 27, permitting lever 25to pivot forwardly at its upper end, thus removing stop 37b from contactwith extension 37a of strip 37. This allows strip 37 to close on strip36a holding the left end 43a of weft 43 thread therebetween.

In FIGS. 6 to 6d, batten 2 is at position F and is beginning to returntowards the rear end of the loom. Needles 42 and 47 arestill positionedoutisde the shed which is gradually opening. The stop 12 on the battenhas moved away from lever 11C, and clamp 10, 11 has again closed in uponthe selvage of the web just forward of the shed apex line X. Levers 25and 30 are positioned substantially at their extreme forward positionstoward breast beam 1.v In returning to forward position, lever 25carries the cutter clamp assembly away from the shed apex line back tostarting position and as the batten has retreated from the shed apexline, stop 23 has .been withdrawn from extention 21b on lever 21,allowing the rocking member to be returned to starting position byspring 19b, lever 21 being similarly returned v by virtue of theconiguration of cam surface 19a. All

the remaining components are in idle condition. In other words, the weftcutter-clamp blades 13, 15 are closed, strips 36a and 37 are closed withthe weft thread 43 gripped therebetween, and the latter strips are,moreover, positioned outside the shed. The lever 41 of needle 42 hasmoved away from resilient stop 40.

From position F, the batten 2 continues to move rearward back to itsstarting position A. The shed continues its gradual opening movement andthe web selvage is pressed near the shed apex by presser-10, 11. Levers25 and 30 are positioned idly near the front breast-beam of the loom.All of the means operated by these levers are idle. Thus the weftcutter-clamp assembly 13, 15 stays closed and strips 36a and 37 stillhold the ends 43a of the weft yarn 43 clamped between them, which weftyarn will be tucked into the shed and disengaged from the strips duringthe forthcoming stage in a manner similar to the tucking in of endportion 49a of the preceding pick of weft yarn during the operatingstage stated above with reference to FIGS. 3 to 3d. The loca- -tion ofblades 13, 15 with respect to the nearest edge of the fabric, that is tosay the length of the end 43a which projects out of the shed, isselected in such a manner with respect to the length of travel of thestrips 36a, 37 during their projection into the shed, that the said end43a, which is retained by the outer warp threads of the fabric aboutwhich it is folded, escapes the said strips by sliding therebetween,before the said strips have reached their innermost position within theshed. The particular form of the edges 36a1 and 371 of said strip shownin the drawing promotes said escape. After having been released by thestrips, end 43a remains pressed by the edges of said strips against theapex line as already stated. The needles 42 and 47 again travel towardthe center of the loom. Needle 42 is free of thread while needle 47, ofcourse, holds a new pick of weft yarn which has one end attached tobobbin 48 and its other end to the end portion of the preceding pick 43.Needle 47, in its forward movement as it enters the shed tucks or turnsthe end portion of the weft yarn in at against the shed apex line andcuts it off as previously described with reference to FIGS. and 11. Theselvage is thus completely formed on the right side of the web.

The next operating stage is the same as that described in connectionwith FIGS. 3 to 3d and the cycle is repeated.

It will be noted that the selvage on the right side of the web may beformed with any desired type of needle 47, using the sameinstrumentalities shown and described hereinbefore with reference to theleft side, i.e. providing on the support 5 a further set of weftcutter-clamp blades, tuck-in strips, and so on, as well as symmetricallydisposed operating levers and 30 therefor.

The mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 12, 12a, 13, 14 and l5 is a weftclamping mechanism arranged to take over the thread from needle 42 asthe latter moves out of the shed and pulls the weft thread 43 towardsit, thereby enabling the needle thus made free of the weft thread toproceed on its course without any limitation and so as to make possiblethe use of the loom for Weaving fabric webs of different width.

The mechanism comprises a lever `51 pivoted on a pivot 52 secured tohatten 2, said lever being formed with an arm 51a adapted to cooperatewith a fixed stop 53 secured to the front frame 54 of the loom. Thelever 51 carries a pin 55, having threadwise engagement at one end witha nut 55a, on which is pivoted a lever 56 carrying a roller 57 adaptedto ride in an arcuate slot 5S supported from a part 2a carried by hatten2. Lever 51 is further biased by a spring 59 into engagement with a stop59a (see FIG. 12a). Pivoted freely on the pin 55 between lever 51 andlever 56 is a jaw member 60 of arcuate shape cooperating with asimilarly shaped movable jaw 61 (FIG. 12) pivoted at 62. A normallynon-tensioned spring 60a is arranged to act between extensions 56a and6tlb of lever 56 and jaw 60. The jaw 61 is resiliently urged towards jaw60 by a spring 63. law 61 carries an inclined ramp surface 64cooperating with a follower roller 65 carried by the part 2a. Themechanism just described is arranged upon the batten above, and toeither side of, the path followed by the weft picking needle 42. Itsoperation will now be described.

So long as hatten 2 has not moved close to the stop 53, the mechanismremains idle, since roller 57 is positioned at the left hand end of theslot 58. The position then is substantially that shown in FIGS. 12 and12a. It should further be noted that the stop 53 is so positioned thatit first contacts the lever 51 as the needle 42 is just moving out ofthe shed.

As the batten 2 proceeds to move in the direction indicated by arrow(lower line of FIG. 12a) towards the front of the loom, stop 53 rockslever 51 clockwise. Simultaneously the inclined surface 64 engages undertoller 65, causing the jaws 60, 61 (FIG. 13) to open, and

assume lpositions above and below the weft thread 43 carried by needle42. n

When the roller 65 has moved past the top point 64a of incline 64 anddrops down into the lower portion 64b which follows the incline (seeFIG. l2), the jaws 60, 61 close in about the weft 43 as can be seen inFIG. 14 and the needle 42, as it continues to recede, releases the weftthread now held by the jaws or clamp 60, 61.

In a subsequent stage (FIGS. 15) the needle continues to recede and theclamp 60, 61 rocks further to follow the weft thread as it is beat upalong the shed apex line, said thread being brought to a position withinthe range of action of the strips 36a, 37 and the weft-cutting andclamping device 13, 1S which operates as previously described. Duringthe return movement of the batten, the clamp 60, 61 is forced open by aprocess reverse from that described and the mechanism is restored to itsidle condition.

In the working embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 17 to22, the breast-beam of the loom is again designated by reference 1, andthe hatten is shown at 2 pivoted on shaft 4. Secured to breast-beam 1 isa support 5 which carries the temple or tenter 6 holding the web 7 nearthe shed apex line. The support 5 is held in place by bolts 66. Thesupport 5 includes a slide- Way 67 upon which a slider carriage 68 ismovable by means of rollers 69 riding the slideway. The carriage furthercarries an operating roller 70 engaged by a fork 71 formed at one end ofa lever 72 pivoted on a fixed pivot 73 and carrying on its opposite enda roller 74 cooperating with a cam 7S mounted on the operating shaft 4of the loom.

The carriage 68 carries thereon the fixed branch '11 of the presserdevice adapted to grip the warp threads forming a selvage of the fabric.The vane or foot 11b carried on the fixed branch 11 is preferablyprovided with a small cushion 11e of plastic material or the like, foravoiding damage to the threads. In front of vane 11b is located aprojection 11d above which comes a little blade 10a carried by branch10. Said projection and said blade provide for a local constriction ofthe warp threads in the selvage better to maintain the tucked in end ofthe weft yarn within the shed. The movable branch 10 of the presser issecured to a lever 76 pivoted on the carriage 68, and carries a roller77 cooperating with a slot 78 rigidly provided on the slideway 67, whichslot is so directed that when the roller 77 is positioned rearwardlyi.e. toward the batten, the presser 10, 11 is closed, While when theroller is positioned toward the front of the slot (toward thebreastbeam) the presser 10, 11 is open.

The support 5 is formed with an extension 79 below the means justdescribed, and a slideway 80 formed in said extension supports a slidingcarriage S1 by means kof rollers 82, said carriage having a downwardlyprojecting shank 83 carrying a roller 84 engaged by a fork 85 on one endof a lever 86. Lever 86 is pivoted on a fixed pivot 87 and carries onits other end a roller 88 cooperating with a cam 89 also secured onshaft 4 (FIGS. 16 and 17). Secured to the carriage 81 is a support 90carrying a pivot 91 for a gripper 92 including a fixed branch 93 and amovable branch 94 pivoted on a small bracket 95 and urged to a closedcondition by a spring 96. The branch 94 at its rear end is formed with asmall incline 94a adapted to cooperate with a fixed roller 97 (shownindotted line in FIG. 16) carried by support 5 so as to open the gripperwhen the carriage 81 advances towards the breast-beam.

The detailed construction of gripper 92 is illustrated in FIGS. 21 and22. As shown, the branch 93 thereof is formed With an opening 93a intowhich projects a cuttingrblade 94b carried by the movable branch 94,thereby permitting said gripper to cut and grip simultaneously the weftthread 43 as the latter is clamped between the branches 93 and 94.Gripper 92 is operated by mecl1a.

Y 9 nism shown in detail in FIGS. 18, 19, and 2O in position on theright side of the loom.

As can be seen from these figures, support 90 carries a lever 98 pivotedat 99 andcarrying at its end a finger 100 cooperating with an incline101 formed on the slideway 80. The lever 98 is pivoted at 102 to a link103 having its other end pivoted at 104 (FIG. 20) to a crank 105 carriedby the gripper 92. In the idle condition Where finger 100 is positionedat the end of the straight portion 101a of incline 101 nearest thebreast beam (FIG. 20), the branches 93 and 94 of the gripper areretracted forwardly along the selvage of the web 7. The small incline94a is engaging the xed roller 97 thereby holding the gripper open.

As the carriage 81 moves towards the hatten (FIG. 19), the finger 100rst moves over the straight portion 101g. of the incline 101 and thegripper is advanced to grip the weft thread 43. Towards the end of thismovement the incline 94a escapes from the roller 97 and the branches 93,94 close about the weft thread and cut it but still hold the cut-offlength of thread clamped therebetween.

On continued displacement toward the batten of carriage 81 (FIG. 18) thefinger 100 climbs the angled section 101b of the incline 101, rotatingthe branches 93, 94 towards the shed apex line X and folding or tuckingthe end 43a of the pick 43 inwards into the shed. The length of travelof gripper 92 on carriage 81 and the extent projection of the branches93 and 94 of the gripper into the shed are so selected with relation tothe length of end 43a to be tucked into the shed and the point along thelength of the branches at which the end is clamped that the branchesmove into the shed a distance in excess of the end length to be tucked.Thus, as the branches pivot into the shed with the end clamptherebetween the branches tighten the thread at the selvage due to thefrictional resistance of the clamping force as the limit imposed by theend length is approached and then, as that limit is exceeded bycontinued movement of the branches, the frictional resistance isovercome, pulling the extreme termination of the thread end free of thebranches. In pulling free, the end lies along the forward edge of thebranches and is pressed by that edge towards the fell of the fabric tobecome wedged into the shed apex to a position suitable for beating upalong with the next pick.

To allow gripper 92 to operate as iust described, it is necessary thatthread 43 be held as it is being brought forward Within the sled beforegripper 92 comes into operation. This holding action is effected by aclamp 106 carried by a small bracket 107, in turn supported on a xedsupport which is shown as an extension 108 of the slideway 80 (FIGS. 16and 19).

The clamp 106 includes a iixed branch 10611 and a movable branch 106i:pivoted at 109 to bracket 107. The movable branch is formed with anextension 106C (FIG. 16) adapted to be actuated by a pushrod 110 movablein a sleeve 111 carried by the support 108. A spring 11051 holds thepushrod 110 in the position corresponding to the open condition of theclamp. Closure of the clamp is produced by action of a stop finger 112carried by batten 2 on the pushrod 110.

Under the action of the batten the thread 43, brought close to the shedapex line, is inserted in the clamp 106 and, as the iinger 112 engagesthe pushrod 110, the clamp closes in to grip the thread. The weft threadis thus caused to assume the angled configuration shown in FIG. 22 andthus is engaged between the branches 93 and 94 of gripper 92 which cutsit olf and, in eiect, takes over from the clamp 106. The clamp 106 isdirected at an angle towards the web as shown in FIGS. 21 to 23, so asto be positioned as close as practicable to the point where the weftthread is gripped and cut by the gripper 92.

Aside from the features explicitly described, the second embodimentoperates generally in the same way as 1() the more diagrammaticembodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 15. In thisconnection, it will be observed that the cutting and tucking mechanismof FIGS. 16-22 is shown on the opposite side of the loom from thearrangements of FIGS. 4-15, i.e. on the yarn delivery side, as would bethe case where the needle 47 was not utilized in tucking thecorresponding end of the weft thread. Obviously, the mechanism Vof FIGS.16-22 could be provided on the same side as in previous embodiment withthe tucking function ofthe weft end on the delivery sidebeing performedby the needle as before.

It will-be understood thatvarious changes may be made in theconstructions shown and described. without exceeding thescope of theinvention.

- What I claim is:

1..,In aloom forweaving-fabric from warp threads and pick threads, saidloombeing of the type wherein said Warp threads are formed into a shedfor the introduction of each new pick, and including beat-up means onone sideV of the fell of the fabric being woven oscillable toward andaway from said fell to beateach new pick against said fell, said shedbeing open for the inserting of a new pick when said beat-up means isaway from said fell and closed when said beat-upmeans is adjacent saidfell, the improvement which comprises a pair of weft-picking` membersoppositely reciprocable from inoperative positions outside the shed intoand out of the shed kto insert each pick and adapted `when in saidinoperative positionsV to hold the. ends of said new pick outside saidVshed, clamping means outside the shed and adjacent one selvage of thefabric being woven for clamping the corresponding end of said pick at apoint between the selvage and the inoperative position of thecorresponding weft-picking member, means for opening said clamping meansto receive said pick end as said beat-up means approaches said fell andfor closing said clamp as said beat-up means moves away from said fell,means operable to receive an exterior end of said pick and tuck the sameinto the shed mounted intermediate the corresponding selvage and saidend clamping means, said receiving and tucking means being adapted forreciprocal movement towards and away from the opposite side of said fellfrom said beat-up means and for pivotal movement inwardly of saidselvage at the limit of said reciprocal movement adjacent said fell,means for advancing said receiving and tucking means towards said felland for pivoting the same after said beat-up means has retreated fromsaid fell and said shed is open and for retracting the same before saidbeat-up means next approches said fell, said receiving and tucking meansbeing normally inoperative to receive said pick end, means for renderingsaid receiving and tucking means operative to receive said pick end whensaid beat-up means approaches said fell and to hold the same when saidbeat-up means retreats from said shed end, said thread end beingreleased from said receiving and tucking means after the latter haspivoted inwardly of the selvage, means for cutting said pick endon theside of said receiving and tucking means remote from said selvage atleast prior to pivotal movement of said means, and means for engagingsaid corresponding selvage directly adjacent said fell at least whilesaid pick end is being received and tucked to prevent the selvage frombeing deformed, and means for rendering said last-named meansinoperative when said beat-up means is adjacent said fell.

2. A loom as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pick receiving and tuckingmeans comprise a pair of interpivoted strip-like fingers elasticallybiased towards each other.

3. A loom according to claim 1, wherein said cutting means comprise apair of interpivoted scissors-like cutter blades, and means carried bysaid beat-up means for pivoting said blades.

4. A loom as claimed in claim 1, including a supply of pick thread andwherein said first weft-picking member comprises an aperture throughwhich pick yarn from said supply is threaded, a spring stripresilientlyengaging said yarn at a point spaced from said aperture, and a cutterengageable with said yarn at a further point spaced beyond said springstrip from said aperture for cutting said yarn at said further point. Y

5. A loom as claimed in claim 4, wherein said first member furtherincludes a lateral projection exteriorly of said member for engaging anend portion of said new pick and tucking it into said shed, said iirstmember being disposed inA operative position on the side of said fabricopposite said engaging and tucking means, Whereby'said first memberengages, tucks, and cuts one exterior end of said pick and said engagingand tucking means the other. 6. A loom as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid second weft picking member is disposed in said inoperative positionon the same side of said fabric as said clamping and receiving andtucking means and comprises a spring latch adapted to engage said pickyarn on interengagement of said members within the shed, whereby saidsecond member completes the insertion of a new pick in said shed uponrestriction thereof to said inoperative position, a latch leverengageable with said spring latch for releasing said yarn, and meansoperable as said clamping means closes for actuating said latch leverfor releasing said pick yarn. 7. In a loom as claimed in claim 1including take-over means adjacent the same side of said fabric as saidsecond member and operable as said second member returns to saidinoperative position with the end of said new pick engaged therein fortaking over said new pick from said second weft-picking member as saidsecond member reaches said inoperative position thereby releasing saidsecond member from engagement with said new pick.

8. A loom as claimed in claim 7 wherein said takeover means comprise apair of interpivoted elements bodily displaceable with said beat upmeans and camming means for` pivoting said elements relatively to eachother into and out of engagement with said yarn adjacent said secondweft-picking member for taking over said yarn from said second member.

9. A loom as claimed in claim 1,- including a weft supply at one side ofsaid fabric and means on the corresponding weft-picking member forcutting o said pick yarn from said supply.

10. A loom as in claim 1, wherein said end cutting means is formedintegrally with said receiving and tucking means whereby said pick endis cut as said receiving and tucking means is actuated to engage thepick end.

11. A loom as in claim 1, wherein said receiving and tucking means ismounted for pivotal movement on a carriage adapted for reciprocalmovement along a path parallel and adjacent to said selvage and includescooperating cam surfaces for pivoting the same adjacent the limit ofsaid movement toward said shed end.

12. A loom as in claim 11 wherein said engaging and tucking meanscomprises a pair of relatively pivotable ngers biased into contact toengage said yarn and including cooperating cam surfaces for moving saidfingers apart prior to their` engagement on said `yarnwhen said carriageis at the opposite limit of its path.

References Cited in the le of this patent `UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. IN A LOOM FOR WEAVING FABRIC FROM WARP THREADS AND PICK THREADS, SAIDLOOM BEING OF THE TYPE WHEREIN SAID WARP THREADS ARE FORMED INTO A SHEDFOR THE INTRODUCTION OF EACH NEW PICK, AND INCLUDING BEAT-UP MEANS ONONE SIDE OF THE FELL OF THE FABRIC BEING WOVEN OSCILLABLE TOWARD ANDAWAY FROM SAID FELL TO BEAT EACH NEW PICK AGAINST SAID FELL, SAID SHEDBEING OPEN FOR THE INSERTING OF A NEW PICK WHEN SAID BEAT-UP MEANS ISAWAY FROM SAID FELL AND CLOSED WHEN SAID BEAT-UP MEANS IS ADJACENT SAIDFELL, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES A PAIR OF WEFT-PICKING MEMBERSOPPOSITELY RECIPROCABLE FROM INOPERATIVE POSITIONS OUTSIDE THE SHED INTOAND OUT OF THE SHED TO INSERT EACH PICK AND ADAPTED WHEN IN SAIDINOPERATIVE POSITIONS TO HOLD THE ENDS OF SAID NEW PICK OUTSIDE SAIDSHED, CLAMPING MEANS OUTSIDE THE SHED AND ADJACENT ONE SELVAGE OF THEFABRIC BEING WOVEN FOR CLAMPING THE CORRESPONDING END OF SAID PICK AT APOINT BETWEEN THE SELVAGE AND THE INOPERATIVE POSITION OF THECORRESPONDING WEFT-PICKING MEMBER, MEANS FOR OPENING SAID CLAMPING MEANSTO RECEIVE SAID PICK END AS SAID BEAT-UP MEANS APPROACHES SAID FELL ANDFOR CLOSING SAID CLAMP AS SAID BEAT-UP MEANS MOVES AWAY FROM SAID FELL,MEANS OPERABLE TO RECEIVE AN EXTERIOR END OF SAID PICK AND TUCK THE SAMEINTO THE SHED MOUNTED INTERMEDIATE THE CORRESPONDING SELVAGE AND SAIDEND CLAMPING MEANS, SAID RECEIVING AND TUCKING MEANS BEING ADAPTED FORRECIPROCAL MOVEMENT TOWARDS AND AWAY FROM THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID FELLFROM SAID BEAT-UP MEANS AND FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT INWARDLY OF SAIDSELVAGE AT THE LIMIT OF SAID RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT ADJACENT SAID FELL,MEANS FOR ADVANCING SAID RECEIVING AND TUCKING MEANS TOWARDS SAID FELLAND FOR PIVOTING THE SAME AFTER SAID BEAT-UP MEANS HAS RETREATED FROMSAID FELL AND SAID SHED IS OPEN AND FOR RETRACTING THE SAME BEFORE SAIDBEAT-UP MEANS NEXT APPROACHES SAID FELL, SAID RECEIVING AND TUCKINGMEANS BEING NORMALLY INOPERATIVE TO RECEIVE SAID PICK END, MEANS FORRENDERING SAID RECEIVING AND TUCKING MEANS OPERATIVE TO RECEIVE SAIDPICK END WHEN SAID BEAT-UP MEANS APPROACHES SAID FELL AND TO HOLD THESAME WHEN SAID BEAT-UP MEANS RETREATS FROM SAID SHED END, SAID THREADEND BEING RELEASED FROM SAID RECEIVING AND TUCKING MEANS AFTER THELATTER HAS PIVOTED INWARDLY OF THE SELVAGE, MEANS FOR CUTTING SAID PICKEND ON THE SIDE OF SAID RECEIVING AND TUCKING MEANS REMOTE FROM SAIDSELVAGE AT LEAST PRIOR TO PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID MEANS, AND MEANS FORENGAGING SAID CORRESPONDING SELVAGE DIRECTLY ADJACENT SAID FELL AT LEASTWHILE SAID PICK END IS BEING RECEIVED AND TUCKED TO PREVENT THE SELVAGEFROM BEING DEFORMED, AND MEANS FOR RENDERING SAID LAST-NAMED MEANSINOPERATIVE WHEN SAID BEAT-UP MEANS IS ADJACENT SAID FELL.